The Sun in the Mists
"What do yo mean you've lost him?", the darkness of Duskhaven's night retreated from Engrin's smouldering body.
"You promised his oath would be fulfilled at the end of the battle", Tark's rage pushed the night further back.
"And if he died, you owe us his body", Durbak's runes flared as he advanced towards the cornered Mistweaver Saih.
Mist seeped into the ruined building and suddenly there was a miststeel blade under Durbak's chin.
"Viserhyx, what a pleasant surprise!", sarcasm dripped from Laelanyel's every word as the Caengans halted, the air around them shimmering.
"I'll get you your Runefather, sons of Grimnir. In exchange, I only ask you lend me your blades, as I've agreed with him", the creaking of mistbows accompanied her words as more Shadowkin materialised out of the mist. "Is this a fair deal?"
"It is, aelf", replied Tark, smouldering rage sending sparks flying all around. "But mark my words. Fail to return Aef-Grimnir to us before Hysh rises again, and the whole Caengan lodge will be after you".
The Sun of Xereus had risen as soon as Mogrum had lost control of his ritual and the scrimshawed bone had vanished into dust. Now, the Sun was moving onto Duskhaven town square, chasing the darkness with its cerulean light.
The Cleavermaws huddled in a ruined inn, for once silent and glancing sideways at the Sun.
The Gloomfen Hunters entered the town, ready to claim the Sun for themselves.
Vyserhyx's Stalkers moved out of the building, two trails of fogs heading for the opposing warbands.
Laelanyel approached the Sun, the Caengans taking defensive positions around her.
Narlek Swiftblade emerged from the mist and slashed at Bosun Higgs, only to find himself clubbed unconscious by Harad's cannon.
Bekliel tried to hold the Gloomfen Hunters at the entrance of a narrow alley. Yet the aelfs broke through him like a surging tide and flowed into the town square.
Arrows flew from both sides and the air was filled with shrill Khainite cries and booming Zharrgrim warsongs.
Under the cerulean light, aelf and duardin bodies littered the cobbles.
Iyshak materialised in time to see the Cleavermaws leaving the shelter of the ruins and moving onto the square.
Laelanyel felt the bestial mind of Mogrum reachign for the Sun. Its skull visage turned slowly around, falling on a Khinerai and on the Caengans. And then, she found herself surrounded.
The Mistweaver gasped, her lungs filling up with mud summoned by the Hunters' Tidecaster. Staggering, she let her shadegheist ravage the Gloomfen Hunters and the mist take her through the Erebusia Gate.
Harad's cannon boomed, sending Iyshak tumbling down from the balcony he was shooting from.
Laelanyel emerged from the Sunken Gate. Still half-drawn, she did not see Mogrum and his lads falling on her. The Mistweaver found herself pushed against a wall parrying Mogrum's bladed totem-staff with her mist staff.
As she lunged forward, her dagger aimed at the orruk chest, her lungs contracted again and she fell flat on the ground, coughing mud.
The Weirdnob Shaman growled in frustration, his prize taken by the Tidecaster's magic. Now that both duardins and aelfs were gone, his boyz pushed the Dead Man's Chest forward and prepared to capture the Sun.
Laelanyel crawled away. When she felt safe, she removed her mask and wiped the salty mud from her lips. Once again, she was left with nothing, a queen without a crown. And yet, that crown had been so close... as long as Aef-Grimnir was by her side. Much as she hated to admit it to herself, she needed the Runefather. Especially now that the stern gaze of a whole lodge was set upon her.
Viserhyx's Shadowkin Stalkers
The Shadowkin that served Laelanyel as her soldiery were chosen among those showing the strongest affinity with the shadows and mist of Ulgu. Not simply able to pierce Ulgu's shroud with their keen eyes, they could merge with it, their bodies turning into a dense, swirling fog. Any interloper in Laelanyel's kingdom would found themselves arrased by flitting shadows, long hafted arrows raining on them from unexpected directions. And if any was able to pinpoint where the attackers hid, they soon found themselves surrounded by masked, black-skinned aelfs whose vicious miststeel blades were as deadly as their arrows. Ever since Laelanyel's departure, they broke up into small roving warbands. Whether exacting their revenge on the servants of Chaos, robbing Sigmar's faithfuls foolishly exploring Ulgu, hunting the tribes of Gorkamorka for sport or chasing undead processions, they still await for Laelanyel's return and the day when they will reconquer their lost lands.
I kept the colour palette the same I've used on Laelanyel and Drevakh Xosh, with black skin, white hair, grey fog and purplish metal. Since the Tree-revenants have tatoos and ritual markings sculpted on them, I've added touches of purple on them too, to further hints at the Shadowkin's connection with the magical energies of Ulgu.
Viserhyx, the Shadow-walker
Narlek Swiftblade
Anielyn
Iyshak
Bekliel
Not only I'm really happy with how they turned out, I was also able to finish them just in time for the final game of Spellbreakers at Realm's Edge! So, stay tuned to see them in action...
The brute and the bone
"We must get it back to the magmahold" Tark repeated firmly, holding the lump of ur-gold in front of Aef-Grimnir's stealy eyes. "It took me much effort to put it together. I will not risk loosing it now we are so close to home".
The Runefather wondered for a moment how the Karl had been able to gather the precious metal, considering the number of times he had been nursing a sore head after being blasted with cannon fire. But he could not deny him. Grimnir's body needed to be secured.
"And this will not come to pass" he replied "Engrin, escort the Kinless and inform my son Garn that I am on my way back".
Aef-Grimnir paused, letting his kin savour that revelation. "But do not tarry, none of you! We are still oath-bound to the Lady Laelanyel and those orruks are up to no good".
"Aye, our Lord!" the Slayers replied as one and strode through the Erebusia Gate.
Aef-Grimnir walked back to the chest the orruks had left behind. He could feel the magic of the Realm flowing through it and towards the Wizard's Mansion. Next to it, was Laelanyel.
"It is done", she said. "The Hunters will guard the other locus on the faylines. With their help, I will stop that accursed Shaman from whatever he is trying to do. And you, Aef-Grimnir, will kill him. Do that, and as we agreed, your oath will be fulfilled!"
The Cleavermaw's guarded all the entrances to the Wizard's Mansion. Their ogor was on look-out duties, his cannon trailing back and forth. Mogrum's booming voice rung loud. The ritual had begun.
Aef-Grimnir advanced cautiously. He knew the orruks would have come for him. Laelanyel stood back, syphoning away energy from the chest and hurling it at the Wizard's Mansion in bolts of pure darkness.
The Gloomfen Hunters leapt forward, their Tidecaster holding the locus of power. Their arrows clattered armlessly against the crumbling walls, but that kept the orruk down long enough for the Idoneth to charge.
Mr Deadwood took Ledger and a couple of deckhands with him and rushed for Aef-Grimnir. Just where the Runfather wanted them, on the sharp end of his axe.
Mogrum's ritual chanting boomed out again, waves of Waaaagh! energy filling his boyz and his Shaman assistant. Green lights flashed from his eyes, the boyz choppas fell with uncanny precision and strength.
The Tidecaster stared wide eyed at the orruks' brutality and called for a retreat. As the Idoneth stepped through the Sunken Gate, a pulse of green energy flashed out of the bone clutched in Mogrum's fist. The Cleavermaws cheered loudly.
"Damn traitors!" Laeanyel's scream turned into a tide of shadegheists that engulfed the orruks fighting Aef-Gimnir.
The Sunken Gate bubbled again and the Caengan strode forwards, throwing axes flying at the Cleavermaws.
Aef-Grimnir slammed Mr Deadwood down and prepared to move into the Wizard's MAnsion.
The ogor lept down from his look-out post to get a clear shot. Tark, once again, stood in the path of the grapeshot salvo.
Bosun Higgs then lead the charge as the Shaman channeled more of the Waaagh! seeping from Mogrum into searing beams.
Soon, the Cleavermaws were in control of the locus of power. But that was not enough. Through gritted teeth, Laelanyel wrested away more energy from the chest and sent it harmelessly into the sky.
A weedy grot spyed Aef-Grimnir through a crumbling wall and screeched for help.
The ogor was the first to respond, loosing a salvo on the Runefather and then slamming bodily into him. The rest of the Cleavermaws moved back into the Mansion.
Aef-Grimnir's runes flared bright, giving him the strength to fight through despite the wounds he had suffered. He felled the ogor and barged through the orruks and onto the upper floor to face Mogrum.
Laelanyel poured a hail of sorcerous bolts onto the Weyrnob and Aef's axe rose and fell. But the energies of the scrimshawed bone kept Mogrum safe. Screaming, the Cleavermaws rallied to protect their captain.
Aef-Grimnir launched himself once again against Mogrum, nearly pitching him off the floor. And then, the Runefather disappeared into the press of green bodies.
Laelanyel saw bright flames burst and then gutter as Mogrum's voice faltered. A shiver run along the fayline on which the Mistweaver was standing. In the distance, an ominous glare started to pulse and grow.
